Smoky Lake County air conditions caused by Tehama County blaze

LAKE COUNTY -- A wildfire burning in Tehama County caused smoke, haze and degraded air quality in Lake County Thursday.

The Panther Fire, measured at 2,000 acres as of Thursday morning, is burning in steep terrain amid windy conditions and may cause intermittent smoke impacts for the Lake County air basin into next week, according to county air pollution control officer Doug Gearhart.

"All areas of Lake County may be significantly impacted should meteorological conditions worsen," Gearhart stated.

Officials predict Lake County air quality will be "moderate" to "unhealthy for sensitive individuals" during the weekend, Gearhart stated. Calm conditions overnight Thursday will likely result in smoke settling in the county's air basin, he added.

Smoke impacts are most likely to occur at night, according to Gearhart.

Smoky conditions can irritate the eyes, nose and air passages. The hazy conditions can be hazardous for sensitive people, including young children, the elderly, people with heart conditions and those with chronic lung disease.

"Remember to take precautions and plan ahead as smoke conditions can change quickly," Gearhart stated.

CAL FIRE is also battling large blazes in Butte, Glenn and Sonoma counties.

The "moderate" and "unhealthy for sensitive individuals" alerts result from fine particulate in the smoke and ground-level ozone, Gearhart stated.

The conditions are generated when combustion products in the smoke combine with high temperatures, sunlight and humidity, he added. Other chemical reactions reduce visibility by forming secondary particulates.